Out in the cold: "Plebgate" Tory Andrew Mitchell is not set for swift return to David Cameron's Cabinet

Comeback bid has been damaged by his pals slamming PM and police

David Cameron has ruled out a swift Cabinet return for ­Andrew Mitchell over the ­Plebgate controversy.

A top Tory source said: “The PM will not be bullied or ­pressurised into bringing ­Andrew Mitchell back.

“The way Mitchell’s allies have questioned David Cameron’s judgement and attacked the police over this has only hindered his case.”

Mr Mitchell admits he swore at police who refused to let him cycle through the main Downing Street gates.

But he denies claims in a leaked police log that he called two officers “f***ing plebs”. Mr Mitchell’s friends have accused Number 10 of leaving him swinging in the wind since CCTV footage of the incident emerged last week and cast doubt on the police version of events.

But their campaign has infuriated allies of Mr Cameron. One Tory said: “Cameron’s not going to be bounced into a quick ­reshuffle – whatever the outcome of the Mitchell case.”

Mr Mitchell is expected to repeat his denial that he used the word “plebs” this week and build on claims by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt that he was stitched up by the police before he quit in October.

The disgraced Tory MP has told friends he has no confidence in Met Police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe who is overseeing the probe by up to 30 officers after it emerged a third policeman posed as a member of the public and falsely claimed to have witnessed the row.

Mr Hogan-Howe, who faces a grilling over his handling of the incident from a committee of MPs in the New Year, has broken off his Christmas holiday because of the affair.

But Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers has rejected claims the ­debacle showed growing mistrust between police and politicians.

He said: “There’s always been, and there should be, a healthy tension between politicians and the police service.”

The Police Federation yesterday announced a review of its procedures after the organisation, which represents rank-and-file officers, faced criticism for its reaction to the scandal.

Mr Mitchell’s allies said he had suffered from ­depression and considered quitting, but had ­decided to fight on the ­advice of his GP wife.